Pipe coupling for faucet connections



Jam, 2% 140 J. J.' HAGAN 'PIPE COUPLING FOR FAUCET CONNECTIONS FiledMarch 1, 1947 INVENTOR Jaw J fl/zaA/v BY MAW ORNEY Patented Jan. 20,1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE COUPLING FOR FAUCET CONNECTIONSJohn J. Hagan, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 1, 1947, Serial No. 731,798

2 Claims. (Cl. 285-90) My invention relates to pipe couplings, andrelates particularly to devices for coupling domestic water supply linesto faucets.

This particular plumbing connection has long been a source ofdifficulty, since the inertia of the water when a faucet is turned offcauses a severe jar and vibration known as water hammer in theneighborhood of the coupling. It has been customary to provide anexternal brace for the pipes at this point to reduce the shock to whichthe coupling is periodically subjected. Furthermore, if the connectionis to be permanently leakproof, it must be free of strain, otherwise itis sure to fail. Accordingly, it has been necessary to cut and threadand the supply line to an exact length corresponding to the fixture itis to reach. This is usually a cut and try process, with the attendantwaste of time and material, and requires a measure of skill toaccomplish. Since soft copper tubing is rapidly replacing the rigidsteel pipe used to supply water, the need for a shock-proof connectionat this point has become more important.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a pipe couplingby which pipes may be coupled together in a water-tight manner and inwhich the joint will be free of any strain.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pipe coupling whereby asupply pipe may be connected to a faucet nipple at any point along itslength, so as not to require any precision or skill in its connection.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pipe coupling whichrequires only one of the pipe ends to be threaded.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coupling for faucetswhich is sufiiciently strong to require no additional bracing orsupport.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of thecharacter described, that is easily and economically produced, which issturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation. v

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in thedetails of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fullyunderstood from the following description, when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary cross section of a pipe coupling embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of my coupling showing the separate elementsof which. it consists.

Referring now to the drawing wherein similar reference characters referto similar parts, I

show a water supply line, generally designated as l2, and a faucet to beconnected thereto, generally designated as B. The faucet is supportedupon a sink or basin I0, and has a short shank or pipe section A whichis to be connected to the supply line H.

The coupling itself consists of three separate elements: a taperedpacking sleeve I 4, a split steel cone l6, and a cap l8. The packingsleeve M has one end of a diameter slightly less than the inner diameterof the shank A, and its other end has a diameter equal to the innerdiameter of the cap 18. The sleeve M has an axial bore i lB equal to theouter diameter of supply pipe I2, and serves as a water seal, being madeof a compact material which will not deteriorate under the action of thefluid conveyed in the pipes. The split cone i6 is similar in size andshape to the sleeve [4, except that its bore [GB is internally threaded,and the cone is split as at IGA and widened slightly so that it can beslipped over the end of supply pipe 12. Cone I6 is made of temperedsteel or any other metal having suitable hardness and flexibility, andserves to grip the smooth pipe i2. Although I show the cone I 6 aspreferably having an internally threaded bore, the cone bore I613 mayalternatively be provided with any other serrated or roughened sur face,or may even be left smooth. The cap I8 holds the pipes and the othercoupling elements together. It consists of a bottom portion IBA having ahole I8E therein of a diameter equal to the mean diameter of the cone i6. The wall portion 183 of the cap immediately above the bottom isknurled to provide a gripping surface for the wrench used to tighten thecoupling. Alternatively, this portion of the cap wall may be made with apolygonal exterior. The remainder of the cap wall I8C is provided withan internal thread IBD complementary to the externally threaded end 20of the shank A.

To make a pipe connection with my coupling, the supply pipe I2 is cutroughly to a length where it can project inside the fixture shank A. Theend 20 of shank A is threaded externally, and if desired a slightinternal bevel (not shown) may be formed therein, using a taper reamerfor the purpose. The cap l8, the split cone l6 and the sleeve M areassembled over the end of pipe I2 in the order shown, and the shank A isthen brought over the end l2. The cap i8 is screwed upon the end 20 ofthe shank A, using a wrench to tighten it. The coupling functions asfollows:

As the cap [8 is screwed upon the end 20, it forces the tapered sides20A and the internal.

3 bore l 413 of the packing sleeve M to wedge tightly between the inneredge or bevel of the shank end 25 and the exterior surface of pipe 12.When the sleeve M has entered the pipe A to an extent where theresistance met arrests any further inward movement, the force of thewrench turning the cap I8 is transmitted to the split steel cone l 6 andby virtue of the inclined sides of the cone, tends to compress .thecone-ab.0l1t-the pipe i2. The internaltthreadszor serrations 0f the conel6 now bite into the smooth walls of the pipe l2 and establish themechanical rigidity or the connection whereby the pipe l2 cannot slip upor down with respect to the shankf A. Tiheffluidiz-seal has already beenestablished by the compressible sleeve 14 and the connection iscomplete.

Although my invention has beenfdescribediin ai pair of 'pipes,.zoneofwhiclmhassa threaded end,

.adapted toeencircle thersecondeof said pair of 10 *pipes,;'and whichsleeve hasian :end adapted to partway enter the aperture defined by thetop ,of said cap.

2. A non-slip adjustable pipe connector com- .zprisingitwo lengths .ofpipe to be joined together, a flexible tapered sleeve surrounding onepipe and fittinginto a second pipe to be coupled to said one-pipe; atapered compressing member abutting said vflexible sleeve andsurrounding the first pipe, a plurality of threads on the internalsurface of said compressing member, and a cap threaded 'to'one-pipe-1and pressing said compressing memberagainst saidflexible-sleeve.

JOHN J. i'H-AGAN.

